Container pack forming machine



Sept- 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL v 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet l .fir

INVENTORS Sept 7, 1965 s. H. cREED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 SePt- 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 l? Sheets-Sheet 4 lNll Il Sept 7, 1965 s. H. cREL-:D ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. cREl-:D ETAL CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 nog@ sept 7, 1965 s. H. CRI-:ED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 w, m, umg/M Sept- 7, 1965 s. H. CREED Em. 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 l'? Sheets-Sheet 9 SePt- 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 1'? Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. CRE-ED Em. 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet l1 Q/f5 f7 45g 4@ 45? Il l um Illlllllllll |5411 44E 4,6 j# llllll 4Z@ Hummm 55 gl 42K ,sa l lll| 4@ 4g ENTORvS 4/6/ 476 I "n 430 Thermal/bg# 011W 412 434 433440 wmcmear' JM Jedemw/J'.

Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. CRI-:ED ETAL CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 1'? Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 IN VENTORS jzefwml Creed 7a, JF @f/w, @az/MMM Sept 7, 1965 s. H. CRI-:ED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 INVENTORS Zier? Sept' 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL i 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 Sept 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,20486 CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 ull INVENTOR5 Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,204,386

CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 17 Slflees-SheerI 16 @v/w, www@ Sept. 7, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL CONTAINER PACK FORMING MACHINE l'? Sheets-Sheet 1'7 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 wad fa//deew 7E/2m a/1673507@ f77 M, m .WMM

United States Patent O 3,204,3ss CoNrArNER PACK roRMING MACHINE Sherman Howell Creed, San Jose, Calif., David Frederick Schlueter and John Stevenson, Jr., Hoopeston, lll., assignors to Iliinois Tool Works Ine., Chicago, Ill., a cor- The present invention relates to machines for assembling containers and carriers together to form individual packs of containers adapted to be carried. Machines of this character are disclosed in United States patent application Serial No. 861,811, filed December 24, 1959, and United States patent application Serial No. 49,259, filed August l2, 1960, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved container pack forming machine of the above character.

Another object is to provide an improved container pack forming machine which is capable of operating with certainty and dependability at exceptionally high production speeds.

Another object is to provide a container pack forming machine as recited which is so constructed that the major components of the machine, which move, have a motion that is fundamentally rotary in character.

Another object is to provide a container pack forming machine of the character recit-ed in which container feeding means having an inherently high capacity operates with efliciency and dependability to accept a procession of containers moving in a single file and feed the accepted containers to an assembly zone in the machine in a double tile in which the containers move in successive ranks of two containers abreast.

Another object is to provide a container pack producing machine in which containers are supplied to a container and carrier assembly zone in a double file of successive rows of two containers abreast, by means of improved feeding means which accepts containers from an inlet for a single container and operates efficiently at a high production rate Without -overstressing or damaging the containers.

Another object is to provide a container pack producing machine which provides advantageously for supplying interconnected container carriers to carrier and container assembly means for an unlimited period of time.

Another object is to provide a container pack forming machine of the above character which facilitates loading of reels `of connected carriers into'the machine for application to containers. Y

Another object is to provide an improved machine, as recited, which is not subject to extended delays in production in the event of a temporary interruption in the normal supply of interconnected container carriers to the machine.

Another object is to provide a container pack forming machine, as recited, in which assembled containers and carriers are transferred between major operating stations within the machine rapidly and eiciently by structure which assures positive movement of the transferred containers in synchronism with the operating pace of the machine, while at the same time avoiding overstressing of the containers or subjection of the containers or the machine to jamming.

Another object is to provide a pack producing machine, as recited, in which interconnected carriers assembled on moving containers are severed, while moving, with precision and efficiency by means of structure having an inherently high production capability.

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Another object is to provide, in a machine of the character recited, for high speed severance of successive carriers assembled on containers bymeans of severing structure which rotates with rotary container engaging structure which effects a precise positional relationship of the carrier severing means to the carriers to be severed.

Another object is to provide in a machine which assembles containers with interconnected carriers for severance of successive carriers on containers by means of carrier severing structure incorporated into star Wheels which engage and pace the containers fon which the carriers are assembled.

Another object is to provide in a machine which assembles containers into closely coupled carriers for severance of successive carriers between closely adjacent containers in a manner which through precise operation avoids weakening of the severed carriers.

Another object is to provide in a container pack forming machine for application of carrying handles at a very high production rate to carriers assembled onto moving containers.

Another object is to provide in a carrier pack assembly machine for application of carrying handles to carriers On containers ata very high production rate, while at the same time effectively minimizing the required operating speed of the structure used to apply the handles to the carriers.

Another object is to apply handles to container carriers in a machine of the above character by means of handle applying structure which is synchronized with carriers on moving containers and brought into operative handle applying relation to the carriers by structure having a movement which is fundamentally rotary in character.

Another object is to apply handles to container carriers, in a machine of the character recited, by means of handle applying structure which performs simultaneously a number of actions which are carried out successively in the application of a particular handle to a coacting carrier.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the character recited, for application of handles to carriers at a high production rate by means of structure which effects `and maintains a positive positional control over the handles from the time they are positively removed from a handle storage space in the machine until the handles are fully applied to the coacting carriers.

Another object is to provide a carrier pack forming machine, of the character recited, in which a procession of handles are fed to a handle pickup station by improved structure which is capable of operating at a very high production speed while at the same time assuring unfailing and accurate positioning of successive handles in the pickup station.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the character recited, new and improved means for positively removing successive strips of handles from the bottom of a stack of handle strips and advancing each successive handle strip toward a handle feeding station by means which continuously maintains a positive control of the handles.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the character recited, new and improved means for severing successive handles initially joined in a handle stripe, while at the same time maintaining full control of the handles and providing a very high production speed.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the character recited, for the transference of a succession of handles from handle supply structure to handle applying structure at a high production speed, while at the same time continuously maintaining assured control of the individual handles so as to avoid jamming or fouling of the machinery.

Another object is to achieve reliable operation at a very high production speed, in a machine of the character recited, by means of machine structure which by virtue of-its mode of operation and construction isinherently suited to run smoothly and efficiently without strain at high production speed.

Other kobjects and advantages will appear fromthe following description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic plan View of the machine forming the illustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine of FIG. 1; Y

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a segment of typical interconnected container carriers which are assembled with containers in the machine;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of a number of adjoined carrier pack handles which are supplied -to the machine for application to carriers on containers;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical container pack which is produced by the machine;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side View, taken with reference to the line 6--6 of FIG. 1, and illustrating carrier supply structure used in the machine;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan View, taken with reference to the line 7 7 of FIG. 2, with certain parts removed to more clearly reveal major components of container feeding structure used in the machine.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View illustrating handle supply and handle applying assemblies incorporated into the machine;

FIG. 9 is a side view of handle supply structure illustrated in FIG. 8, certain parts being removedto more clearly reveal major internal components;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken with reference to the line 10-10 of FIG. 9, certain parts being broken away and others removed for clearnessin illustration;

FIG. 11 is a `fragmentary sectional View, taken with of an element which supports one side of a stack of handle strips in the handle magazine and structure used to positively remove the'lowermost handle strip from the t stack; n

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. l2, but illustrates the handle strip pulldown structure approaching the lowerrnost handle strip in an early phase of the operating cycle of the handle strip pulldown structure;

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13, but shows the pulldown structure engaged with the lowermost handle strip;

FIG. 14A is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 14A-14A of FIG. 16;

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14, but illustrates the action of the parts as a handle strip is positively moved downwardly;

FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15, but illustrates a slightly later phase in the operating cycle in which there is a positive separation of overlying handle strips from the lowermost handle strip;

FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16, but illustrates the position of the parts upon completion of positive removal of the lowermost handle strip from the stack and the depositing of a removed strip on positive strip advancing structure;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of the handle feeding structure, taken with reference to the line 18-18 of FIG. 9; y i y FIG. 19 is a sectional view of transmission structure taken with reference to the line 19-19 of FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken with reference to the line 20-20 of FIG. 9, and illustrating structure used in severing handles as they are advanced along a handle feeding path;

FIG. 2l is a sectional view, taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20, and illustrating handle severing structure;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken with reference to the line 23-23 of FIG. 18, and illustrating structure used to feed individual handles to a handle pickup or supply station;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view showing handle control elements of FIG. 23 advanced to locate a handle in the handle supply station;

FIG. 25 is similar to FIG. 24, but illustrates the positional relationship of the parts at a slightly later operational phase in which the handle is picked up by coacting handle applying structure;

FIG; 26 is a fragmentary plan View, taken generally with reference to the line 26-26 of FIG. 23, and illustrating the positional relationship of parts which supply handles to the supply station to parts of the handle applying structure which pick up individual handles at the handle supply station;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary plan view, taken with reference to the line 27-27 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 isa simplified vertical sectional view, taken with reference to the line 28-28 of FIGS. 8 and 9, and illustrating an annular array of handle applying units which are orbited to apply handles to carriers assembled on the containers;

FIG. 29 isa front View of a typical handle applying unit of the assembly of units illustrated in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of the typical handle applying unit illustrated in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a side view of a typical handle applying unit, as viewed from the line 31-31 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a'sectional view of a typical handle applying unit, taken along the irregular line 32-32 of FIG. 31';

FIG. 33 is a sectional View, taken with reference to the line 3.3-33 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary plan View, taken with reference to the line 34-34 of FIG. 2, and illustrating carrier severing structure, certain parts'being broken away to reveal underlying components;

FIG. 35 is an illustration of a typical cutter actuating linkage used in the carrier severing assembly of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a simplified longitudinal side View of the machine'illustrating the manner in which containers are supported on the endless conveyor for movement through successive working stations;

FIG. 37 is a fragmentary plan view of a segment of the endless conveyor illustrated in FIG. 36; and

FIG. 38 is a fragmentary edge View of the conveyor segment of FIG. 37.

The container pack forming machine 50, FIGS. l and 2, forming the illustrated embodiment of the invention, yoperates automatically at a high production rate to produce individual carrying packs of containers, a typical one of which is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The typical carrying pack 52 of containers illustrated in FIG. 5 is a six-pack inV which six containers 54 are disposed in two adjacent rows of three containers each.

The individual containers are cylindrical in form and are commonly referred to as tin cans, such as are used to contain foods, beverages, and other products.

The upper ends of the cans or containers'54 of the pack 2 52 are fitted into apertures 56 in a carrier 58 formed sembly of a carrier with containers, portions of the carrierwhich define the apertures 56 may be tipped in relation to the central plane of the carrier. Such carriers and lcontainer packs formed with the carriers as such are not new with this invention.

Nevertheless, it should be noted, with reference to FIGS. 3 Iand 5, that each carrier 58 denes two longitudinally spaced medial apertures 6@ adapted to receiv-e the anchoring shanks or legs 62 of a U-shaped carrying handle 64. Typical handles 64 are illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown, the free end of each handle leg 62 is integrally joined to an anchoring barb 66 shaped somewhat in the form of an arrow tip. The individual handles 64, including the anchoring barbs 66 are integrally formed of a tough, flexible plastic material.

As will presently appear, after the plastic carriers 58 are assembled with coacting containers 54 in the machine t), handles 64 are applied to the respective carriers by inserting the anchoring barbs 55 through the handle apertures 60 of each carrier and moving the coacting handle downwardly to a storage or collapsed position in relation to the carrier.

It may be noted, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, that each carrier 53 includes a sizable pull tab 72 projecting from one end of the central longitudinal portion of the carrier. This tab 72 is used to rip out the central longitudinal portion of the carrier to etIect release of the containers when it is subsequently desired to disassemble the pack.

The supplies consumed by the machine 50 in assembling containers into packs consist essentially of interconnected plastic carriers 5S, FIG. 3, and interconnected plastic handles 64, FIG. 4. It is particularly noteworthy that adjacent longitudinal ends of successive carriers 58 are integrally joined together, as shown in FIG. 3, by two integral junctures 74 between the trailing end of each carrier and the leading end of the succeeding carrier. More particularly, the connecting junctures 74 between adjacent carriers are between the plastic structure of the respective carriers encircling the apertures 56 in the adjacent longitudinal ends of the two carriers. In a sense, the junctures 74 between successive carriers may be regarded as connecting webs between the carriers. However, the successive carriers are so closely coupled that the junctures 74 are more accurately visualized as an integral merging of the adjacent structure on the respective carriers defining the adjacent apertures 56.

The significance of this will appear presently in the description of the machine 50. It is particularly noteworthy that the spacing of the apertures 55 in one end of a typical carrier 58 from the `adjacent apertures 56 in the adjoining end of the next carrier 58 is substantially the same as the spacing between correspondingly adjacent apertures of the same carrier. As will be described, the interconnected carriers 58 are assembled with the cans .or containers 54 before the carriers are severed in the machine 50. This makes the close coupling of successive carriers signiiicant, in that it complicates the problem of effecting a high speed severance of the carriers after the containers are assembled with the carriers.

The integrally joined plastic carriers 58 are, alter manufacture, wound on reels for storage and handling.

The plastic handles 64 are formed in strips in which adjacent handles 4are connected together by integral connecting webs at four points. A short segment of a handle strip 76 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The number of handles joined together in a strip 76 is determined by handling convenience. As shown, each anchoring barb 66 on each handle 64 is connected to the barb on each adjacent handle 64 of the strip by a connecting web 78. The grip portion 7 0 of each handle 64, which is generally straight, is connected to the grip portion of each adjacent handle by two connecting webs 80.

The four connecting webs 78, 89 between each handle 64 and each adjacent handle of a strip 76 makes the strip suiciently :stable for convenient handling, but requires that all of the connecting webs be severed, to separate the handles for application to the coacting carriers, as will appear.

The strips 76 of handles are stacked in a handle supply magazine 82 positioned on the machine 50, as shown in FIGS. l, 2, 8 and 9. As will presently appear, the machine operates automatically to remove successive strips of handles from the bottom of the magazine 82 and to :apply the handles to carriers.

interconnected carriers 58 are supplied to carrier and container assembly means within the machine 50l from reels 85 by means which serves to advantage in maintaining an uninterrupted supply of `carries to the carrier and container assembly structure, while at the same time easing the task of loading reels of carriers into the machine.

In the machine 50, containers 54 are assembled with carriers 58 in a container and carrier assembly station or zone 84, FIGS. 2 and 7. The containers are moved continuously through the assembly zone 84 two abreast in a double file or procession. A succession of interconnected carriers 58 is applied to the containers 54 moving through the station 84 by means of endless carrier applying means 86, FIG. 2, which is continuously circulated through a closed path free of abrupt changes in direction and extending through said carrier applying station.

Components of the machine 50 which effect the actual assembly lof carriers and containers together in the assembly zone 84 are similar in construction to corresponding components of the carrier pack assembly machine disclosed in the previously mentioned patent application Serial No. 49,259. Since reference may be made to that application for a full description of the carrier applying means 86, and since no claim is being made in this application to the details of the carrier applying means 86, it is unnecessary here to speciically illustrate and describe this component of the machine Sl) in the present application.

However, it should be noted specifically that the present machine 50 is a single channel machine in that it is designed to receive and apply carriers to only a single double le procession of containers. The high speed production capabilities achieved in the machine 50 afford suicient container pack forming capacity in a single channel to accommodate the output of cans from canning machinery with which the machine 50 would ordinarily be used.

While reference may be made to the above mentioned application for details of the carrier applying means 86, it may be noted here that the endless carrier applying means S6, which serves to receive the connected carriers 5S and applies the carriers to the cans, is disposed in an annular array on the rotor or drum 88.

The rotor 88 is driven continuously from a common drive 90 for the whole machine 50.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, a single electric motor 92 energizes the common drive or transmission 90 for the machine. Suitable gear trains are used to connect the drive 90 to each of the major components of the machine, so that all are caused to move in synchronism with each other. For the purpose of illustration, FIG. 2 illustrates the drive 9i) being connected to the drum 88 by means of a worm 94 and gear 96. Similarly, a worm and gear 9S, 100, connect the drive 96 to handle applying means 102 in the machine to eliect application of handles in synchronized relation to the assembly of cans and carriers. A worm and gear 104, 106, connect the drive 90 t-o operate carrier severing means 10S in synchronism with the other components of the machine.

As previously intimated, the pack forming machine 50 is designed to accept the output of cans or containers from high speed canning machinery (not shown), such as may be used in a brewery, for example. Conventional canning machines, such as may be used to supply filled cans or containers to the machine 50, have very high output capacities, frequently running well in excess of one 

6. IN A MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CONTAINERS INTO PACKS FOR CARRYING, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PROCESSION OF CONTAINERS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A SUCCESSION OF INTERCONNECTED CONTAINER CARRIERS, MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A SUCCESSION OF INTERCONNECTED CONTAINER CARRIERS WITH A PROCESSION OF CONTAINERS IN A CONTAINER AND CARRIER ASSEMBLY STATION, MEANS FOR MOVING ASSEMBLED CONTAINERS AND CARRIERS AWAY FROM SAID ASSEMBLY STATION ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATTH, TWO ROTATABLE CONTAINER SPACING ELEMENTS DISPOSED IN CONTAINER ENGAGING POSITIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PATH AT A CARRIER SEVERING STATION LOCATED DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID ASSEMBLY STATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF CONTAINERS ALONG SAID PATH, AND A PLURALITY OF CARRIER SEVERING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID CONTAINER SPACING ELEMENTS IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED POSITIONS THEREON FOR SEVERING SUCCESSIVE CARRIERS ON CONTAINERS MOVING THROUGH SAID SEVERING STATION. 